Sports
Ladipo Gives Siasia Pass Mark
The President-General of Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Rafiu Ladipo, on Wednesday said that former Super Eagles coach, Samson Siasia was not a bad coach.
Ladipo told the Tidesport in Abeokuta, that Siasia was one of the best coaches in the country.
“The problem is that he signed a contract that put the Nigeria Football Federation into a tight corner.
“He promised to take us to the semi-final of the African Cup of Nations and failed to deliver on the agreement.”
Ladipo, who was in Abeokuta to attend the 2011 NUJ Press Week, noted that apart from the contract signed by the former coach, impatience was another factor that led to his sack.
While soliciting for fans’ patience with the newly-signed Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi, he expressed optimism that the coach would perform well and even better.
“Keshi is experienced enough and I hope he has learnt from the sack of Siasia. I wish he will do better.
On the chances of the National Under-23 team qualifying for the 2012 London Olympics soccer event, Ladipo said such qualification would be the last hope of the nation.
While expressing optimism at the chances of the team, Ladipo said the players in Morocco for the matches would make the nation proud by securing the ticket.
The President-General also admonished Federal Government to engage more youths in sporting activities, saying, “an idle hand is the devil’s workshop”.
“When youths are engaged with sporting activities, they forget about involvement in social vices.”
Vice president of the Nigeria Olympics Committee (NOC), Chief Solomon Ogba, foremost Sports Marketer and founder of Okpekpe Road Race, Mike Itemuagbor and top Sports Journalist and Media Strategist, Mitchel Obi have lent their voices in support of the Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF).
The personalities with backgrounds in sports administration, marketing and media spoke separately in commendation of the festival, an initiative of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) with Dunamis Icon as consultants.
“This is a positive addition to the evolving sports business ecosystem because it is not just a springboard for identifying talents, it also offers a platform to truly hone the skills of those already discovered”, remarked Obi, who served as Special Advisor to a former Sports Minister, late Anthony Ikhazabor.
He said the festival will be a flagship event in the region that would trigger interest in sports among the youths and people of the region.
Edo State-born Itemuagbor commended the NDDC for the decision to add sports in the list of their intervention projects in the region, adding that: “This speaks directly to the problem of youth restiveness which is of great concern to our people.”
Raphael Onyedika has now emerged as a major doubt for the Super Eagles’ must-win 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe later this month.
The midfielder was forced out early from last week’s league game against Standard Liege.
He has not recovered from the injury and so will miss today’s league match against Gent and may also miss a UEFA Champions League Round of 16 clash against Aston Villa yesterday.
The Super Eagles take on Rwanda in Kigali on March 21, before they face Zimbabwe in Uyo four days later in crucial World Cup qualifiers.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Al-Khalood defender, William Troost-Ekong, has shared his experience on the difficulties of winning the prestigious Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) while describing it a must win trophy.
The former Watford FC defender has competed in the tournament three times but has yet to lift the trophy.
“I’ve been there three times now, bronze medal, silver medal, but I haven’t had the chance to win it. That remains my ultimate goal,” he told Tidesports source.
“It means so much to me and all the kids growing up in Africa and Nigeria.”